Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, June 26, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Sunday, June 29, 2003 2:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, 50th Anniversary of Mother Thrice Admirable Chapel, Schoenstatt Heights, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, June 26, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Sunday, June 29, 2003 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, 100th Anniversary of St. Joseph Parish, Rio 3:30 p.m. -- Attend Reception and Program, 50th Anniversary of Mother Thrice Admirable Chapel, Schoenstatt Heights, Madison

The priest at the altar and with God's people

		Comments from the Administrator and Bishop Emeritus + William H. Bullock Bishop Emeritus

It was my privilege to be homilist at Mass on Trinity Sunday at the 25th anniversary of priestly ordination of Father Charles Schluter of St. Mary Parish, Platteville. Let me share with you some thoughts from my homily.

Praise to the Most Holy Trinity, to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

"In this hurting contemporary world, do continue to love, tend, and feed God's people, especially heal the brokenhearted, give release to prisoners from their selfishness and self-destructive ways into newfound freedoms. Bring comfort to all who mourn. Be the oil of gladness and sign of hope as you build up the Body of Christ, preserving always the unity of the Spirit."

From the sign of the cross taught us early on in life to the doxology, "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit," we profess and confess a Triune God.

Today, as we join all Catholics throughout the world, we celebrate that primary mystery of our faith, the Most Holy Trinity. But we also celebrate with our brother and friend, Father Charles Schluter, on his 25th anniversary of ordination as a priest of Jesus Christ.

Let me explore some thoughts with you on this occasion that touch on the life of a priest in three areas of his priestly ministry.

The first is the priest and the altar of Christ. The second is the priest as proclaimer and preacher, the priest as celebrator and presider at Eucharist and Sacraments. The third is the priest as living sign of Christ in the community, as he loves God's people, as he tends God's people, and as he feeds God's people.

Altar of Christ

We believe the altar of Christ, consecrated by the Bishop in all parishes, is a table of unity. Here rich and poor, young and old, become one with Christ at his banquet of plenty where God graces and gifts us with new strength and power to live the life of God each day.

We believe the altar is also a source of the Holy Spirit in whom we grow as God's people. It is why the priest reverences and kisses the altar at the beginning and end of the celebration of the Eucharist.

The altar is the place where the great mysteries of redemption are accomplished. The altar is where people offer their gifts, unfold their good intentions and pour out their prayers.

The priest of Jesus Christ stands with his people and before God in time and moment receiving the people's gifts here on earth. But ultimately the priest stands as the connector, if you will, to God's holy altar in heaven.

This reality is sounded in our Eucharistic Prayer, whereby we beg the angels to take this sacrifice to the altar of God in heaven, for it is from there that we receive every grace and blessing.

Altar blessings

What are these altar blessings? Before examining the particulars let me say it is at the altar of sacrifice where all struggles and sorrows are resolved; the altar is the place where anger and anguish are rectified in Christ. The altar is where my will and God's will resolve in Christ's words: "Not my will, but your will be done."

The altar is 1) a sign of Christ; 2) a table of joy; 3) a place of communion and peace; 4) a source of unity and friendship; and 5) a center of our praise and thanksgiving.

The priest, chosen by God and elected by the call of the Bishop, knows the awesome privilege in his heart that he shares in Christ's holy priesthood. At the same time he realizes, in his own human frailty, that he is but a mere vessel of clay . . . fragile in all ways. Yet such marks the power of God that he can bring redemption, salvation, joy, and everlasting life to God's people through the priest.

Father Charles Schulter has been such a priest for 25 years and we salute him today for being that servant of God's word. He is one of the most able preachers in the Diocese of Madison. From his Holy Name Seminary days he is teacher, preacher, and friend to people of all ages.

Sign of Christ

We salute him for his fidelity at God's holy altar where all things finally converge for final resolution in the Lord. In his role as priest, he is a proclaimer and a preacher of God's word, a celebrator and presider of the Eucharist and Sacraments. Father Charles is also as priest that loving sign and presence of Christ among God's holy people.

He has done all three well. He understands his priesthood. He lives his priesthood . . . as proclaimer and preacher, as celebrator and presider, as a sign and presence in the community of believers.

In this hurting contemporary world, do continue to love, tend, and feed God's people, especially heal the brokenhearted, give release to prisoners from their selfishness and self-destructive ways into newfound freedoms. Bring comfort to all who mourn. Be the oil of gladness and sign of hope as you build up the Body of Christ, preserving always the unity of the Spirit.

Father Charles, we lift our voices high. We lift our hands in loving applause to you. We hold you dear in our hearts and give ourselves in prayer that you may continue at least for another quarter century to be that living sign, that loving priest, ever faithful to Christ in whose priesthood you share and serve so well. Ad Multos Annos.